Refrigeration unit



F. C. GEILER Feb. 7, 1933,

REFRIGERATION UNIT 1927 2vSheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18 Feb. 7, 1933. F. c. GEILER 7 1,897,020

REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed July 18, 1927 ZSheets-Sheet- 2 I I "my W "I! I Patented' Feb. 7, 1933 V UNITED STATES PATENT oer-71 cc FREDERICK CARL GEILEB, OF-DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO TRUPAR.MANUFACTUBDTG COMPANY, 01 DAYTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO REFRIGERATION UNIT Application filed m 1a, 1927. Serial No. 206,535.

' My invention relates to refrigeration ap paratus, and more particularly to an evaporator or expansion umt for a refrigerator apparatus of the flooded system.

Ordinarily such a unit consists of a boiler. or header with which are connected a plurality of dependent loops of tubing, or the like, forming an expansion coil. While heretofore it has been proposed to cast the expansion unit or evaporator en bloc the present invention pertains to a unit or evaporator unit comprising an assembly of separate cast metal sections arranged side by side andinterconnected into a unitary structure.

.Each section comprises a substantially cir- T bular header portion with which are integrally formed a dependent substantially rectangular loop-like portion having therein passages of substantially triangular crosssectional form affording marginal projecting flanges or ribs and also laterally projecting flanges or wall extensions which abut one upon the other. The interior of the looplike extension is provided internally with pro jecting horizontal beads or ribs on which are supported ice pans or drawers for water or commodities to be frbzen. The margins of such pans or drawers are reversely bent to engage such supporting ribs upon an edge or line contact only. The drawers or pans are thus suspended from such supporting ribs for free circulation of air thereabout. The several sections comprising the evaporator unit are interconnected by tie rods extending through bosses, the openings in which are somewhat larger than the tie rods, to thereby afford intercommunicating passages adjacent the lower corners of the unit between the vertical passages of the succeeding sections leading from the header or circularreceiving chamber at the top of the unit. There are additional tie rods provided extending through the circular head portions of the several sections for clamping the sections toget-her. Sealing gaskets are interposed between the abutting faces of the sections which are preferably corrugated or grooved for embedment in such gasket. The tie rods are provided with blind nuts at their ends seating on sealing gaskets or washers. The several per, tin, or from alloys of two or more of such metals. The bulk of metal forming the unit is maintained as low and the weight of the unit as light as is consistent with strength, durability and safety.

' The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well as the means and mode of assembly of refrigeration units or evaporators which will not only be cheapened in construction, but willbe more efiicient in use, uniform in operation, presenting a maximum surface for absorption of heat, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a unit formedfrom cast sections having an appreciable body of metal-presenting a maximum heat absorption surface, whichbody of metal upon becoming. cold through the action of the refrigerant will continue to absorb heat from the surrounding atmosphere with minimum fluctuation of thermal capacity, .thus tending to equalize the operation of the unit, avoiding sudden and abrupt changes of temperature within the refrigeration compartment.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide unitary cast sections of improved shape having refrigerant passages therein and intercommunicating openings between successivesections aflording efiicient and uniform distribution of refrigerant.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for interconnecting the various sections of the unit into unitary assembly,

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting the ice pans or commodity drawers wit-hin the unit whereby they are suspended for free circula- 1 sists ofthe features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily, the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a side elcvationpartly broken away of the assembled refrigeration unit. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on line 4.4 of'Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the relation of the tie rod and intercommunicating passages through the abutting bosses of the several sections. Fig. 6 is a front view of a domestic refrigerator illustrating the relative location of the refrigeration unit therein.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, the refrigeration unit has been shown as comprising three sections, to wit, two end sections, 11

and an intermediate section 2. One of the.

dominant features of the present construction is the flexibility by which the unit may be extended or reduced, to enable refrigeration units of any capacity to be assembled by introducing a greater or less number of intermediate sections 2 between the end sections 11. Thus the unit may be extended indefinitely by adding additional intermediate sections 2, or it may be reduced to two sectional contour or prismatic form having their apices turned outwardly to afi'ord marginal ribs or fins 6 while the interior faces 7 of such hollow prismatic column are parallel and flat except for the presence of spaced.

inwardly projecting beads or ribs 8. In ad dition to their outwardly extending apices or fins 6 the prismatic columns of the sections possess laterally projecting flanges 9 extending in opposite directions and registering with like flanges of the succeeding sections to form side walls of the unit. The hollow interior of the columns 4 and communicating transverse bottom portions 5 afi'ord 1 a circuitous passage or conduit communicating at its upper ends with the interior of the circular header portion 8.

Located at the lower corner portions of the loop-shaped structure formed by said prismatic columns 4 and bottom portion 5 are transverse hollow bosses 11 which communicate with the passage or conduit 10 within the lateral columns and bottom of the sections. The circular header portion 3 of the terminal sections 1-1 of the unit are closed at one side except for the presence of perforated bosses 12 through which extend tie rods 13 and inlet and outlet openings 14 and 15 for refrigerant.

The several sections comprising the assembled units are arranged side by side with several circular header portions 3, and projecting bosses 10 of the assembled sections in registry with each other,-but separated by interposed strata of packing material. The adjacent faces of the several sections are preferably corrugated or indented to form a succession of parallel beads which by being embedded in the inter osed stratum of packing material serve to e ectually seal the oint between succeeding sections. The several sections are clamped together by the tie rods 13 extending through the circular header portions 3 of the several sections and through the bosses 12 of the terminal sections, and by like tie rods 16 extendin through the registering bosses of the severa sections.

The openings in the bosses are of somewhat greater diameter than that of the tie rods 16 thereby affording intercommunicating passages 17 about the tie rods 16 between the conduit passages of succeeding sections. The several tie rods 13and 16 are threaded at their extremities to receive blind"-nuts 18. That is to say, the threaded openings in the nuts 18 to receive the ends of the tie rods do not extend through such nuts, but the nuts have imperforate faces. The nuts are further provided with sleeve-like extensions or shanks 19 which extend within the openings of the bosses 11 and 12. By tightening the nuts 18 upon the tie rods the sections are drawn tightly together to form leak tight joints between the circular header portions and the perforated bosses 11. The lateral flanges 9 of succeeding sections are slightly separated from each other to afford an intervening narrow opening 20 for the circulation'of air. I

The terminal sections/are provided adja cent to their top and bottom with laterally projecting lugs 21 and 22 having therein aligned holes through which extend suspension rods 23. These rods are to be attached threaded to receive the screw threaded stems event the unit is to be suspended.

metal. The top margins of the trays or 25 of the feet 24. The suspension rods 23 are of slightly smaller diameter than the threaded stems 25 so that the rods 23 may extend through such threaded holes in the Upon removal of the suspension rods the screw threaded stems 25 ma be engaged in the threaded openings in t e lugs 22 to support the unit as is shown in Fig. 2.

Theassembly affords a comparatively large unobstructed chamber within which are "inserted water 'pans or trays 26 to receive water or other material to be frozen. The trays 26 are preferably formed from sheet drawers 26 are reversely flanged outwardly and downwardly as at 27 for engagement upon the horizontal beads 8 of the unit. The

drawers or trays 26 are thus suspended for free circulation thereabout. The engagement of the drawer with the supporting ledge or bead 8 is upon'a line contact afforded by the edge of the sheet metal flan e 27.

The circular chamber or boiler afforded by the registering circular header portions 3 is adapted to enclose a suitable float operatedvalve structure controlling the inlet orifice14. This valve may of any suitable construction and forms no part of the present invention per se. A typical and conventional form of needle valve is illustrated at 28 in Fig. 2 and is controlled by a float 29 carried upon the oscillatory arm 30, o ratively connected with the valve 28. ixtending inwardly within the chamber of such registered headers 3 from the outlet orifice 15 is a suction conduit 31 for expanded gas. Outside the unitthe inlet and outlet orifices Hand 15 are provided with shutofi valves 32 and conduit connections leading to and from the usual com ressor.;

As is usual in the floode system of refrigeration, refrigerant is admitted through the inlet orifice 15, the quantity of refrigerant being regulated bythe needle valve 28 controlled by the float 29. The-liquid refrigerant fills the passages 10 of the several sections and rises in the chamber of the headers 3 to such level, that by elevation of the float 29 the needle valve 28 is actuated to close the inlet orifice. As heat is absorbed from the surrounding refrigeration chamber in which the liquid is located, the liquid refrigerant being expanded assumes a gaseous form and such expanded gas is withdrawn from the unit through the outlet conduit 31. After being passed through the compressor and to the required degree the temperature will not fluctuate suddenly nor abruptly witheach change of conditions and consequently a more uniform or equalized degree of refrigeration can be maintained.

comply with the statute, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction shown but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: I 1. A refrigerator unit comprising a reservoir, and a plurality of dependent loop like conduits of substantially triangular cross-' sectional contour, the ends of which communicate with the reservoir, said loops being arranged with their apices turned outward and their flat faces inturned and aligned with like faces of adjacent conduits.

2. In a refrigerator unit a plurality of cast metal-separable sections, each comprising a hollow head portion and a dependent loop conduit communicating at its ends with the head portions, said head portions being'arranged in registry and intercommunicating with each other integral walls closing the outer faces of the terminal head portions of the series and forming an enclosed float chamber, and intercommunicating passages between the looped conduits at points removed from the head portion.

3. In a refrigerator unit, a reservoir, a plurality of dependent loop shaped conduitscommunicating at their ends with said reser- V011, and intercommunicating passages between succeeding looped conduits of said unit adjacent to the bottoms of said dependent conduits and tie rods of less size than said intercommunicating passages extending therethrough transversely of said plurality of conduits and interconnecting the conduits one with another.

4. A refrigeration unit includin a plurality of integral cast metal hol ow continuous circuitous conduits of substantially triangular cross sectional formation, arranged side by side with their flat faces inwardly disposed and contributing to form an enclosed freezing chamber and having intercommunicating transverse passages.

5. A refrigeration unitincluding a reservoir and a plurality'of dependent looped conduits of substantially triangular cross sectional contour throughout arranged with their flat faces inturned and aligned one with another to form interiorly a refrigeration chamber.

6. A refrigeration unit including a reser 7. In a refrigerator unita cast metal structure including a reservoir and a'plurality of dependent looped conduits communicating at their ends with the reservoir, said cast metal structure being separable transversely into integral units, each comprising a trans verse portion of said reservoir and a portion of said plurality of dependent conduits, and clamp rods for separablv interconnecting the separable units.

8. In a refrigeration. unit, a refrigerating compartment formed by a plurality of trans versely disposed separable section each comprising a chambered head portion and an integral looped conduit, the opposite ends of which communicate with the chamber of said head portion thereby enclosing a refrigerating chamber transversely of which the separable sections extend, the inner-faces of said conduit being flat and disposed substantially in registry with each other to form the side walls of said chamber, said sections being arranged side by side and interconnected with each other whereby the chambered head portions will form in conjunction a single continuous compartment common to the looped conduits of the several sections, the chambered head portions of the terminal sections being closed at their outer sides by integral walls, the intermediate sections being open at opposite sides of their head portions and registering with each other and with the head portions of the terminal sections to form a continuous float chamber.

9. A refrigeration unit, or the like, comprising a plurality of separable cast metal sections, each section comprising a chambered head portion and integral loop like conduit portion of substantially triangular cross section disposed with their flat faces turned inwardly, the inner fiat faces of succeeding sections being alined in a substantially common plane and having the ends of the conduit portions communicating with the interior of the chambered head portion, the chambered head portions of the terminal sec.-

'low head portion and a tions being closed at their outer sides andopen atotheir inner sides, the head portlons of the intermediate sections being open at their opposite sides and registering with each other and with the open sides of the head portion of the terminal sections to form an enclosed float chamber.

10. In a refrigerator unit, a series of separable sections, each including a hollow head portion and a dependent looped conduit communicating at its opposite ends with the hollow head portion, integral terminal walls closing the extreme ends of the head portions of the terminal sections of the series, the intermediate sections having their heads open at their opposite ends, the head portions of the succeeding sections registering with each other, registering hollow bosses on the looped ionduits open at their ends and affording inter-commun cating passages between conduits and the tie rods extending through the registering hollow bosses but of less diameter than the interior dimensions of said bosses connecting the sections in assembled relation.

11. A refrigeration unit comprising a plu rality of separable integral hollowunits of cast metal each comprisin an enlarged holdependent mtegral conduit of looped formation intercommunicating one. with the other at a plurality of registering points, said units being arranged side by side in parallel relation, and integral end walls for the head portions of the terminal units, the intermediate head portions being open at their opposite sides and registering with adjacent like head portions and with the head portions of the terminal units to form an enclosed float chamber.

12. A refrigeration unit comprising a series of separable integral hollow units of cast metal each comprising an enlarged head portion and an integral dependent loop portion of substantially triangular cross section throughout forming a continuous circuitous conduit, said cast metal units having intercommunicating registering transverse openings and independent means interconnecting the units into an assembly. i

13. A refrigerator, unit including a plurality ofseparable sections, interconnected side by side, each unit including a pendant hollow loop portion enclosing a refrigerating space and. a head portion with which the ends of the loop portion communicate, said head portions being open at their sides and engaging one with another to form a continuous chamber common to the several sections, and bearing surfaces on said pendant portions in spaced relation with the headportions also contacting one with another,

and maintaining the pendant loop portions in relatively spaced relation, said chamber having refrigerant inlet and outlet openings, I

and a float in the chamber controlling the inlet valve.

14. A refrigerator unit includinga plurality of separable sections, interconnected side by side, each unit including a pendant, hollow loop portion enclosing a refrigerating-space and a head portion with which the ends of the loop portion communicate, said head portions being open at their sides and engaging one with another to form a continuous chamber common to the several 1 sections, closure heads for the ends of the chamber, spacer. means intermediate the pendant hollow loop portions maintaining said pendant portions in relatively spaced relation, and tie means common to all the sections of the pluralityforholding the sections in assembled relation with each other. 15. A refrigerator unit including a plurality of separable sections, interconnected side by side, each unit including a pendant hollow loop portion enclosing a refrigerating space and a head portion with which the ends of the loop portion communicate, said head portions being open at their sides and engaging one with another to form a continuous chamber common to the several sections, closure heads for the ends of the chamber, a..tie rod extending through the chamber and also a tie rod extending through the pendant loop portions for holding the sections in assembled relation with each other. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of July A. D. 1927.

FREDERICK CARL GEILER. 

